300: Rise of An Empire

300: Rise of An Empire

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 3/7/14

Reviewed 3/11/14 at Celebration North Theatre IMAX 3D

with Gary

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The first few minutes of 300 give an indication of what is to come. Lots of blood splattering, reminding me of an overly violent video game. We thought they could have lightened up on this and utilized more development on the characters. Part prequel and part sequel, it lays out enough to keep us interested but falls short of the first 2007 300 film, which was so unique.

More about the evil dipped in gold Persian (God) King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and less about the super woman fighter Artemisia (Eva Green) would have been a big improvement also.

Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) is the military leader of Athens and he knows the only way to defeat the advancing Persians is if all of Greece unites and they can't do it without the trained fighter Spartans amongst them. The narration is well done by Queen Gorgo (Lena Headley) of Sparta and wife of the fallen Leonidas (Gerard Butler) who commanded the resisting 300 Spartans. She gives the backstory as it toggles back and forth of what led to the battle of the 300 and then of course what transpires after. Themistokles and his hodgepodge soldiers consisting of artisans and farmers is without the support they really need as the mourning Queen Gorgo is resistant to have Sparta jump in the war.

So the Greeks have to face the onslaught of Xerxes' naval fleet led by the female general Artemisia without them. The creators really should have skipped the scene of Themistokles and foe Artemisia meeting on the ship to discuss a surrender. Good time for a popcorn run. There are some great battle sequences in the seas that are really spectacular. Although crazy absurdities but that makes it the visionary splendor it is and while it lacks historical accuracy, we shouldn't really expect this anyway. Those cultured Greeks are pretty tough and they keep at it until their ships are so outnumbered, it is a sure defeat. While I won't divulge the end, you can either decide to read up on your Greek history to see what really happens or go see 300: Rise of an Empire. Could be a toss-up but in that case, I would probably see the movie.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2 Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJ